My Zen Wall Part One

There is a plant that grows very well in my area. It's called a Mexican Petunia for short and Ruellia brittoniana for those who prefer the Latin. It's a plant that comes with a warning. If you scroll down the link posted up there, you will see the warning on the bottom of the page.

It's a very invasive plant. Which means it's a total survivor, and it can wreck havoc to things that need to grow where they need to grow to sustain life.

One of my neighbors walked by the other day and complimented by yard and my butterfly garden work. Then she cursed the Mexican Petunias telling me the story of them being so invasive, and yes, well, they are, but nothing here is endangered. But, I didn't mention that. I didn't know if she worked for the Environmental Invasive Police. I'm sort of still new here.

What I should have done, was shown her my Zen Wall. I love this wall I made with the MP's as they look so Zen like, and they grow tall; I don't think they are supposed to grow this tall but they seem to be doing fine. I love my Zen wall.

My house is small and the lots here are very small and for privacy on the porch, I needed something ~ but what? When I put the MP's out there, I wasn't thinking about making a Zen Wall, I had just put them behind some croutons, that I don't really like, thinking they might add some more color. And then they began to grow.

Sometime in that time, I got this idea to put fishing line to cross between the columns. I have used that to make a support for the Mexican Petunias to be able to stay up straight. Again, that was not my original intention, but I like the way it is turning out.

It's a privacy issue. More about the Zen Wall later. I just think things done with nature are just so much more spiritual ...
more later and a photo.
Just to tired right now.
Good Night.

I am Just enjoying my ride ....

on this trip around the sun.

I am listening to a song by Big Al Anderson called Trip around the Sun. I'm just thinking how I meet so many people who are not really happy. And I get it. Totally. I get it that some people will never be happy; they will not allow themselves to be.

Right now, I am so happy, well, it's really like more than happy; it's like satisfied. I feel so good. And I am sitting here wondering, like, do I have a brain tumor? Why should I feel so great?

I had been irritated with myself for not meeting certain stands. I think what it was, really, is that I was having a hard time with accepting myself at this age - 62. Because you see, I still feel like I'm 24, my parents treat me like I'm 14, but people look at me like I am over a century old! It was very confusing for a second or two.

But - I'm done. I processed through all the man made cheese, and I am here on the other side of the moon, and I am (so, so, so) happy.

I got some scores settled in my mind. That's where most of the action of misery takes place! LOL. Seriously, we bring onto ourselves such misery and suffering that doesn't need to be.

I love my kids and my husband so much, I think I'm going to explode. And my granddaughter and new daughter ... oh my gosh, family can bring such pleasure to our lives, if we just accept the new things that keep going on around us.

A lot of people can't accept change. That's one of the key things for living long and being happy. It's okay if the young people do things differently.

Last week we went out to dinner for my mother's 80th birthday, and tonight we are going out to dinner for a niece's 21st birthday. Different generations that each do things differently. Different paths in this world today than before.

I need to finish getting ready. I fit into some clothes that didn't fit me last year. Don't think *that* doesn't make me happy, too! Add to that, butterflies in my front yard every day, living a block from the beach, and having the people I love close by.

It's all good.

New to Me

eclogue \ECK-log\ noun
: a poem in which shepherds converse

Example sentence:
"Be it in the appropriation of the goatherd or shepherd in the pastoral eclogue, or the neatly controlled terraces of the Georgics, the pastoral has always been an idyllicised representation of the rural world...." (John Kinsella, The Literary Review, January 2005)

Did you know?
Although the eclogue first appeared in the Idylls of the Greek poet Theocritus, it was the 10 Eclogues (or Bucolics) of the Roman poet Virgil that gave us the word "eclogue." (The Latin title "Eclogae" literally meant "selections.") The eclogue was popular in the Renaissance and through the 17th century, when less formal eclogues were written. As our example sentence suggests, the eclogue traditionally depicted rural life as free from the complexity and corruption of more citified realms. The poets of the Romantic period rebelled against the artificiality of the older pastoral, and the eclogue fell out of favor. In more modern times, though, the term "eclogue" has been applied to pastoral poems involving the conversations of people other than shepherds, often with heavy doses of irony.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Okay.
I did not know that.
I did not know that shepherds had a name for their poems.

The world is so full of information, old and new. Have you ever met someone who gives you the impression that they know everything? I find that so humorous. I find more joy is learning something new. It's so much fun. Those people are missing out on so much!

How boring and tiresome to know everything!

I get such a joy out of watching my granddaughter learn her new things every day. It is amazing the joy she finds in learning and discovery and how much she looks forward to it. Yet, she find a solace in what she already knows. That Daddy loves her. And that Mama loves her. And all her other peoples love her, too.

Enjoying the view

Giving things up ~ Part Dos

This is part of my series of thinking about things:

1. Give up trying to understand people. It's all about acceptance and proper spacing.

At a certain point, even empathy for the way other people think or live, or whatever, is too much for one person to absolve. Accept how they are, or place yourself a safe distance from any negative feelings they give you. Negative feelings are bad. If these people make you sad, don't think about them. If they frustrate you with their constant problems, don't be close to them to talk to them. And if you have to be, buy an I-pod and use it.

2. Give up the worry about what you have to give up to do things that help you stay peaceful in your later years. These years NOW, are my LATER years. I am traveling now into my 60's. I do not have time for people's whiny ways; I do not have time for people who will not, cannot, or think they cannot change, and want to spend their time complaining about their life and how hard it is as if they have no control. Nope ~ moving on ...

Right now, I love life so much. I am going to work on keeping it that way.

I forgive everyone for the ways they have that they can't help, and probably can't help beecause they don't know how to tap into awareness and, therefore, will never have a clear picture of how they affect others, or how others affect them. No one means to hurt me, as far as I know, so then, I shall feel no hurt from useless outside sources unless I allow myself to feel it.

I am moving on ~

I love the results in my life that I am receiving from walking more often, working in my yard as often as I can, and taking my granddaughter around to walk on flowers and say hi to butterflies.

I try out new recipes because I love to cook.

I clean what I can around the house even though it is hard when the outside calls so loudly, but I do not get annoyed with myself for what I cannot do because of other choices I have made. Like yesterday for instance ~ Grandpa Des and I decided to sit outside with Shaylin for over an hour and listen to the birds, sing to her (and got the privilege of listening to her *sing*), watch her stare at us, and sat quietly with her after she fell asleep sitting there between us. *THAT* was a little piece of heaven.

Giving things up....

Ya' know, there is only so much time in the world. I can't do all the things I wish I could do ~

If I work in my yard, I don't get my floors don't get cleaned. If I am caught up on my laundry, my bedroom is a mess. If I walk my two miles, my kitchen doesn't get cleaned or dinner doesn't get cooked. If I do a massive grocery shopping, my guest bathroom is without proper towels.

If I spend time with my granddaughter, the whole world can fall down around me and I would never know! When they bring the baby over and say, "hey, do you think she could visit while we have some dinner?" -- Ha! Like whatever is going on, is over -- it's all about that baby girl and making her laugh and kissing her cute little neck. And when they come back for her, I say, "Don't you guys want to have some dessert?"

I can't do it all, nor will I ever. But I will always, always, always make time for the people I love.

These little feet will soon be running

As things to do on my list come around, blogging is one of things that doesn't get done because it's never on my list. I used to blog just at random, it wasn't anything I really thought about. But now, I don't know what it is about having a grand-baby, but that sure does change your time to do stuff. I don't like a day to go by that I don't look at the baby!

My nephew Jacob, whom I spend 5 days a week with, is getting bigger and will be going into Kindergarten this year. He is so excited! I take him to a tutoring session with one of the Kindergarten teachers at the 'big school' once a week. And, I have to say, it is one of the best decision his mama ever made. Mrs. Evans is the dream of mothers who are looking for Kindergarten teachers. She would be the one that you draw the lottery for and when you win, you will will jump up and shout "Hallelujah!" She has skills. She has the skills to zero in on what makes each child tick.

So, this coming August, I'll be having a little more time unemployed since Jacob will be going to school full time. Maybe then, I'll catch up on my blogging ...oh but wait, my granddaughter will probably be walking by then, and she will need someone to chase her. Oh well ... Gotta do something to keep in shape, don't we?

Thoughts on learning

"The idea is to educate, not follow anyone's schedule about when something should be studied." ~ Ray Drouillard

"What is most important and valuable about the home as a base for children's growth into the world is not that it is a better school than the schools, but that it isn't a school at all." ~ John Holt

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."
~ William Butler Yeats

"Parent's give up their rights when they drop the children off at public school."
~ Melinda Harmon, Federal Judge, 1996

I'm setting sail for good things

Dear roxie

Plain Sailing

The wind may blow from any direction, but the direction in which you go depends on how you set your sails.

Not so bad a message here

This was in my Thought for Today inbox:

Dear roxie

If you don't live life on purpose you live life by accident. Why do some days feel like a motorway pile up? It's because you haven't sorted out your purpose yet. The highest purpose is always giving, or serving others, without wanting anything in return. This is why relaxation is always impossible if we are always 'on the take'. There is an overall purpose for your life, and each of the many scenes which fill your day are opportunities to serve your purpose. Take time to think deeply, listen to your intuition, and with patience, the reason why you are here, and what you uniquely have to give, will occur to you. Then you can live your life 'on purpose'.

Beatles

everybody had one good year
everybody let their long hair down
everybody had one bad dream
everybody saw the bright sunshine
everybody had one hard year
everybody had a real good time
everybody put one sock up
everybody put one foot down

So, I got the enzymes from the health food store and divided some up between my sister and mom and myself. We will see what happens.

I have been kind of tired lately, but when I think about it ~ why shouldn't I be? I am really busy from waking till sleeping! Even though I spend a couple of hours on the computer, I am up and down a lot. Like when I wind down tonight from the net, I will go in and clean the kitchen and tidy up some things before bed, and I feel like getting up at 6 AM would make someone tired by now, right? Yes, right.

Going out of town this weekend. I am looking forward to seeing my niece and her family ... they are so much fun! It will be a blast. Bill and Adrienne and the baby are going with us. It's going to be great.

I need to cut Mr. B hair before I go and also, Rita's hair ...it will work out or not.

Go in to bed. Yeah. Tired!

Best,

Acid reflux and Enzymes

Recently, my mother in law was going through some horrible stomach problems, and diagnosed with acid reflux and given two different pills to take every day, one twice a day. One of them was Nexium, and her cost is $147.00 per month, and the other I don't know what the deal was,
but anyway,

I went into the Alternatives Medicine Health Food Store and began chatting with the owner there, told him about my mother in law's situation, and he began to explain to me about digestive enzymes ...which I realized, there was much I didn't know about these magic little things. I thought they were in my food.

I didn't know the body makes less of them as we age, but we still need them for proper digesting assimilation, and about how the doctors always give people Nexium type products instead of suggesting a natural supplement, when in fact, it's a natural enzyme that they need!

The owner there explained how the enzymes were what my MIL needed, but if she began to take them, she had to stop taking the Nexium.

He also explained that what happens when people get diagnosed with acid reflux, they begin to eliminate certain foods from their diets, and their diets become so scaled down to bland foods that the body has a difficult time finding the nutrition that it needs from the foods it is provided. And that many of the foods that are given up because of suffering from acid reflux, are really good foods that our body needs. Even green chilies!

And, so my MIL did try them. She got a super kind that were going to cost about $25.00 per month. It's been almost a month now, and she has had no more of the acid reflux problems. She takes the pills with every meal, and last night she had Guacamole make with red onions and chili peppers and nothing bothered her!

So, my sister in law, who has been having the same kind of problems and was taking Prisolec for a few months now, decided to try them, also. And now she is fine.

So, she told a friend at her school, who has digestive problems and some other not feeling so good stuff, and she has added the enzymes to her diet, and she feels better.

So, just sayin' ~ if you know anyone taking one of those drugs for heartburn, suggest to them to Goggle digestive enzymes, or go to a health food store and talk with someone.

I can understand why doctors don't suggest these things to you because if they didn't work, someone might sue them! But doctors and drugs? Well, that's the hook-up, isn't it? it's kind of a catch-22 though, because I think many people want some kind of security relief and for them, that's a drug from the pharmacy.

More people need to check out alternative medicines along with diet changes, but whatever on that. I'm just glad it worked out for the people I know.

Good Grief, It's April

It's nice! The weather is something wonderful right now, you just want to be outside all the time. I love working in my yard even though it looks like a little kid plays out there. It's like landscaping gone rogue.

I can't even remember if I wrote about my yard lately. I think I did, but I think about my yard so much in my mind, I might think I wrote about it, and all the time I was just thinking about it.

I have to make myself (kinda) stay out of Home Depot, as I would buy plants, lots and lots of plants. I would buy all the butterfly plants in the world. Well, not in the entire world, but a lot. You need a lot because the butterflies eat them, and then you just have a lot of dead stuff in your yard,

and your husband goes, "what is that dead thing growing on that trellis?"

and you say, "It's food"

and he says, "Food?"

and you say, "The butterflies eat it"

and he says, "It looks like they ATE it, already. It's dead"

and you can still see the caterpillars crawling on the stems, so you know you can't go against the universe and cut it down, and you look forward to the day you can explain all this to your granddaughter. Because you are thinking, she will understand.

End of March - Wow, first quarter - Gone

It seems so much is going on, I don't have the energy to write or think. My sister has moved down, so more people to process on the day to day always overwhelms me.

And...I am totally enjoying my granddaughter, just about every single day I get to see her, and she is changing so fast and learning things so fast, it is truly difficult to keep up! Three months old and she seems to want to skip rolling over and go right to getting up! I have to Goggle that ~ I thought all babies were supposed to roll over first!

Otherwise, it's just busy, Sean with school and work, and Madam B with work now and working on getting the GED, and Mr. B is enjoying his work right now, even though it is considered part time, we are using all the ways we can to keep ourselves running efficiently.

The cut backs on the electric bills have been easy as the weather has been so beautiful! And when it gets hot, since the kids are working (two less people in the house), and I don't get home until after 5 usually, we can leave the AC off later and later in the day. Now, when summer comes, we will have to make that adjustment else where! Especially since there is talk of gas prices going up.

I've gotten back out in the yard, and even though I have suffered a bit with my back by moving bags of dirt and such, I do love it. And as always, I wish I had more money in the budget for plants and flowers!

My vegetables have not done very well this year. Maybe it's too early? I dunno, but they are still out there. The activity is the yard is picking up everyday. I see caterpillars everywhere!

I'm up early this morning, but when everyone is sound asleep, you wonder if there is much you can get done!

Current Status of This Life

Exciting things here. My sister, her husband and my great nephew, who is her son, have relocated from Central Florida. They found a place 3 miles from us! Amazing. And she has a job! (Which is why she relocated in the first place.)

So there has been much activity regarding that, and I've been working a little bit longer, and Madam B is working on her GED and somehow, in our move two years ago, I have misplaced our birth certificates and social security cards!! Weird, weird, weird. I have all the copies, but the copies are really not what I need.

I am figuring what will happen is, as soon as I get the replacements, then I will find the originals. That's usually how it goes for me!

My granddaughter is just still so fantastic. I am lazy on my other blog, but I will catch up on all that great detail. And soon.

It's been raining here. Which is lovely, as we do so need it.

I'm still reading the same three books I last mentioned, and my mother in law has lost one library book I checked out for her. I have renewed it 5 times, but I'm going to have to just pay for it if I don't find it soon.

We have moved a few things in our yard, plants that is, and are enjoying the birdhouse! We have a couple of robins and blue jays. I'll post a picture of our robin soon. I've named him Chiller. As he seems to just chill and chirp loudly when he's out there even when the cats are present! Gotta admire his spunk!

H. Tip/Quote and - Running Behind

I lose track of the days. I am guessing that is not entirely unusual for people to do. There are more people in them lately, and before I know it, several days have gone by, and I'm not sure how I got here. That's really not a bad thing unless you have an unhappy life, but since I have a very happy life, it's not a bad thing at all.

Right now we have company from Rhode Island. One of my nephews is visiting with his wife and daughter, and other family came up yesterday. It's quite fun, but the day is over before you know it!

"We all grow up with the weight of history on us. Our ancestors dwell in the attics of our brains as they do in the spiraling chains of knowledge hidden in every cell of our bodies." ~Shirley Abbott

And for our health tip -

We already covered ice cream (why do I want ice cream at this time in my life? I was never a big fan of ice cream. Weird), so let's say we won't mention that on April 21 is Ben and Jerry's National Free Cone Day? And Baskin and Robbins gives you free scoops on your birthday? ...moving right along

Ankle injuries -

Balance training is what you need to help prevent ankle injuries. Practicing balance exercises help improve neural pathways between the brain and the joint (information on this can be found - at that site or just a general goggle search will prove many exercises that will help.

It's an easy exercise to adapt, good for you in terms of long terms benefits, one can do it just about anywhere, and you don't need any special clothing!

Stand firmly and comfortably on one foot. Take the opposite foot, and wrap your toe around the back of your ankle. Just stand steady. Repeat. Repeat as many times as you can during the day.

I know one that is a little more complicated, just a little, I'll post that one tomorrow.

After you are great at keeping your toe behind your ankle (make sure you work both sides), you can move the ankle up a little on your leg.

I fell asleep, but not before I ate Ice Cream

I haven't posted the last couple of days regarding my Quotes and Health Tips. I fell asleep. And there was so much activity going on! I think both days were one day, or certainly seemed like it.

I think it started Monday when I went to a small theater to see an Irish show. It was very entertaining. Tuesday? It happened, I'm sure. I know I went over to see the baby and walked that evening (increasing my distance), and there is company visiting, and I've been watering my yard, and clipping back plants, and I'm sure some other stuff ...cooking, laundry, shopping.

Anyway, both nights, I had an ice cream cone and fell asleep. But, I have lost three pounds, and I am cooking very well. Mr. B is on the Eat Well For Long Life wagon, so that is very, very helpful.

(But, we all know that in the beginning of trying to drop a couple of pounds, ice cream cones can be your enemy disguised as something totally wonderful.)

And sleep is good! Today, my plan is to start back on my Bar Method DVD. So, we will see what happens!

Actually, the main goal for myself is to not gain any additional weight and tone up what I have. So. Good luck to me.

Health Tip:

1. Do not eat ice cream at night.

2. Do eat ice cream if you want to try Uma Thurman's Ice Cream Diet. And, if you should so wish, you can scroll down and read the comments.

Quote:

I had always thought that once you grew up you could do anything you wanted - stay up all night or eat ice-cream straight out of the container. ~~Bill Bryson

Another day Q &HT

Quote for today --

The point of philosophy is to start with something so simple as not to seem worth stating, and to end with something so paradoxical that no one will believe it. ~~Bertrand Russell

Health Tip-

Breakfast. Breakfast is a good thing. Start your day with some kind of protein. It doesn't have to be meat or an egg, if you don't wish, it can be peanut butter or re-fried beans! (I love re-fried beans for breakfast!) Or hummus~ I love hummus.

Make a protein shake with a soy or whey protein powder.

It's just one of those things that can help things work out better for you during the day. Your body is fueled from its night of fasting, and ready to go after a nourishing breakfast. And, usually, when lunch rolls around, you won't need as much food, so good there!

So, eating well, and moving ~ yeah, on our way.

Quote and Health Tip for the Day

Quote for the day:

Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.

- Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821)


Health Tip:

Identify your weakest area regarding good health.

Snacking? - Don't stop snacking. Find something that's good for you, instead. An example might be yogurt instead of ice cream. But not just any yogurt. Buy really, really good yogurt like Fage. I love that stuff! Of course, I load it with fun things like walnuts, fiber cereal, raisin, cranraisins, okay, and maybe a chocolate chip now and then, and sometimes -- for a really fine treat, I add peanut butter (the natural kind) and cherry preserves. Oh gosh, it's heaven.

But anyway, match a good food to your favorite weakness snack.

How about exercise? Just can't do it? Then run in place and keep parking that car farther and farther from your final destination until you are walking from home. Guaranteed to get you in shape.